How to Do Basic Audio Mixing

There's a lot to keep track of in mixing room audio. To master the process, you need to understand what each knob and button does. Take a deep breath, read the labels on the controls and read this brief article. You'll feel better and the audience will, too.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Take all the levels down to zero and set the bass and treble so that they're balanced on the board. Do this before any sound is started, and do it every time. This gives you a good, consistent frame of reference.
2. Equalize the sound elements separately, even different speakers. If the musicians take turns on the same microphone, get a sample ahead of time so that you know how to set them as they come. Any group using the same microphone should be sampled as a group.
3. Pan the audio as you go, after you equalize. Tell people that are eating the mike to back off it a bit.
4. Adjust the volume on each voice or instrument so that you get an overall pleasing effect. Don't forget to consider where your speakers are located and how the sound will act once the performance begins.
5. Add any effects. Most engineers add an echo effect to music productions, but it's a matter of taste. Don't feel as if you can't experiment with the sound, and don't listen to the musicians too much--they only hear what's in their monitors.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage the performer to rehearse and take a personal sample of the performance from both the middle and back of the performance area. If everything sounds good in those places then everything will sound great.
• Musicians do know about sound, but they often are under the impression that what they hear is what the audience hears, which usually isn't the case.